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Rules & Regulations regarding Stove installations - oh yes - there are lots of these & many people find it all very confusing. Sometimes people find these rules & regulations annoying but ultimately there are very good reasons for them - in the main they are there for your own safety & for the safety of those around your fireplace! Stay safe & keep your loved ones safe - use a qualified installer!
By Law in England and Wales the installation or replacement of a gas, solid fuel, wood or multi-fuel burning appliance (including the fireplace) is subject to Building Regulations. The owner of the dwelling must either (1) obtain (& pay for) Building Control Approval from the local authority or (2) have the work carried out by a registrant of a Competent Persons scheme – either Gas Safe Register (for gas work) or HETAS (for solid fuel). Failure to use a registered competent person for the installation of your fireplace & obtain the appropriate certification will invalidate any manufacturers’ warranty and could affect your household insurance policy - you will also need to provide the certification upon selling the property.
Members of a competent persons’ scheme can provide the mandatory certification that is required
Just for your information & to help you decide on the right stove for your fireplace - here are some general guidelines that you will need to adhere to:
In all cases the manufacturers instructions should be consulted. There must be a minimum space/hearth of 150mm/6” to each side of the stove before a non-combustible surface, 12” to a combustible surface & 12” from the top of the stove to the underside of any overhang. There must be a minimum of 12” of hearth in front of the stove & the hearth should be at least 50mm high (& slabbed when using with solid fuel). All stoves vary as to how far the stove should be sited from the back wall of a chimney opening. Many 5kW stoves need to be set off the back wall by a minimum of 50mm/2” but this does not apply to all stoves. When using a top flue exit - there should be at least 600mm of straight flue pipe before any bend. Where a stove is to be sited in front of a plastered wall with a metal chimney system, it is recommended that a non-combustible panel is fitted to the wall behind the stove & the stove must stand on a raised non-combustible hearth. Any stove over a 5kW heat output will require an air-vent in the room where the stove is to be installed.
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